Self-aligning terminal socket



March 1, 1932. M, c, ER

SELF ALIGNING TERMINAL SOCKET Filed Dec. 7. 1925 FIG. 6.

INVENTOR. MAE T/N G 55357'50 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar- 1,1932 1,847,685

,UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE mania c. Bnasrnn, F n meqccanrromn i V snLr-aLrG'NiNG TERMINAL mm, l

A u aim fiieu n mber 19 serial n. 73,622.

' My invention relatesto self-aligning tersocketsmounted therein; Fi .2isan enlar ed minal sockets for use in connection with elecside view of one ofthe terminal-sockets; ig. tric connection plugs for making an electrical -3 is an e'dge view'thereof, showing by dotted connection with flatirons or other heating lines one of the supporting arms and the apparatus. v contact forming member connected there- The objects of my present invention, are: with separated from the other contact formfirst, to provide a terminal socket of this ing memberin a manner to receive a terclass whichis adapted to receiver and clamp ininal post; Fig. 4 is a similar view thereof, round and flat, as well as other terminals of showing the contact forming members sepdifierent cross-sections; second,to provide a arated in parallel relation and showing by 0 terminal'socket having oppositely disposed dottedlines a terminal post positioned theremembers for receiving and clamping ayterin; Fig. 5is anend View thereof, taken at minal post therebetween, said members be-' 5-6 of Fight; Fig, 6*is atransverse sectional ing variously separable-and adapted to' as- View thereof, taken through 66 of F ig. 4, suine various positions relatively to each and Fig; 7 is a fragmentary sectional view 05 other, thereby permitting said members to thereof, taken through 7-7 of Fi 2.

readily and securely clamp terminals" ofva- Like characters of reference re er to simirious sizes, shapes and inclinations; third, larfparts and portions throughout the sevto provide means of this class having a yield-' eralviews ofthe drawings.

able U-shapecl support, at the ends of the Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows [0 arms of which is pivotally mounted, inter the supporting means for the terminal sockets mediate their ends, apair of oppositely dis- =a'san-electricconnection plug casing 1 of a posedterniinal contacting members adapted special type and adapted to be used for conto assume various angular positions relanecti'ng the electric current to a'flatironor g tively to each other as ,well asvarious sepathe like; The casing 1 is provided with arated parallel positions; fourth,- to' provide removablememberextending over a portion a very compact andefiicient terminal socket "-only of one side ofthe casing and fitting in particularly adapting the same for conneca correspondingly shaped recess 1a, as shown tion plugconstructi-on for electric flatirons; 'inFig. -13 flVith the s ecial construction of t fifth, 'tofprovide as a'wholea novell'y' conterminal sockets, as will be described hereso structed self-aligning terminal socket, and after, the casin 1 is made particularly short, sixth, to provide a device of this classwhich particularlyadaptin thesame for electric is simpleandeconomical, of construction, flatirons. "The'electric cables supplying elecdurable,and which will not readily deteriotrical energ {to the terminalsockets enter rate or get out of order, I the casing-t rough an extended sleeve pora5 With these and other objects in vieW,'as tion 16 extending to one'side and partially will appear hereinafter,,1ny invention 'conbackwardly from the mainortion of the sists of certain novel features ofc'onstruc- "casing so as to reduce inter erence of the tion, combination and arrangement of parts cable%with the operator of thehea'ting appai' j and portions, as will behereinafterdescribed ratus to a minimum.

in detail and particularly setforth in the V The means for supporting the contact appended claims, reference being had to the forming members'or terminal contacting accompanying drawings and to the c'haracmembers or terminal socket members, in parters of reference thereon, which form a part ticular relations with each other, is substant of this application, in which: 1 i tially U-shaped and consists of a pair of op- Figure 1 is a side view of-a special elecpositely disposed supporting members 2 and etric connection plug'adapted to be used for 3,which are secured together at their coconnecting the electric circuit to-flatirons,incident'rear ends andfree or separated at showing the loose side'member removed to their forward ends. The normally forward -to facilitate the illustrationof the terminal portions of the supporting members 2 and 3 minal socket members provide extended engagingsurfaces for receiving and holding .zflat terminal posts, while the oppositely disposed channels 5a and 6a thereof provide an extended socket therebetweenfor holding are oifset toward each other and are provided in said offset portions with longitudinally extending grooves or channels 2a and 3a. The supporting member 2 extends straight backwardly and is provided at its normally rear end with a flat circular recess 2?) in which is positioned the normally rear end ofthe supporting member 3, which,member 3 extends at a right angle to the member 2 and is provided with a looped spring portion 3?) connecting its right angle bent portion with its straight, normally forward portion. In the rear recess 2?) of the member 2 is also 'posi-' tioned the rear end 4a oflan auxiliary sprin member l, which is positioned outside of an conforms substantially with the contour of the supporting member 3 and is adapted to supplement the spring. action of the member 3 at its bulged portion. The'rear ends of the supporting members 2 and 3 and of the spring member 4 are securedtogether by folding inwardly the portions 20 ofthe member 2,

forming the side wall of the recess of said member, as shown best in Fig. 2.

The terminal. contacting members or socket members 5 and 6 are formed of sheet metal plates with longitudinal grooves or channels 5a and 6a attheir adjacent sides, said channels forming cor-responding ridges attheir outer sides, which are positioned in the corresponding channels Qaand 3a of the sup- .portin members, asshown bestin Fig. 6.

The portions ofthe supportingmembers 2 and 3 at either side of thegrooves or channels 2a and 3a therein, as indicated by 2d and 3:! in Fig.- 6, .are flat and form tiflat bearing surfaces for cor-responding .fiat portions 56 and 6b, of the terminal socket members 5 and 6, respectively. The flat portions 5?) and 6b of the ter- .-round orpolygonally shaped terminal posts.

The normally forward ends. of said socket members 5 and 6' are turned outwardly, as

indicated by 50 and 60, to facilitate the introduction of terminal posts, either fiat,.round .or polygonal, into the sockets formed by said members -'5 and 6.

Near the free or forward ends of the sup- .porting members2 and 3 are provided rccesses or slots 26 and 3e through which extend, respectively, outwardly directed lugs 5d and 6d positioned intermediate the ends of the socket members 5 and 6. These lugs 5d and 6d are also bent forwardly to prevent ready removal ofthe socket members from their respective supporting members,

With this type of construction-of terminal socket, a terminalpost may be inserted vbetween the members :5 and 6 separating them,

asshown bydotted lines in Fig. 3;, against the for securing the wires f the cable 9 to the terminal sockets. The walls forming the recess "2?) at the rear end of the supporting member 2 are extended at the portions not folded downwardly to secure the members 2,

3 and 4 together, forming yieldable lugs 2f for retaining the wire 8 around and underneath the head ofthe screw 7.

.Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I .do not wish to be limited to this particular construction,combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention,

the construction, combination and arrange- .ment substantially as set forth in theappended claims.

, 7 Having thus described my invention, what v bers, one pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the free ends of each of said support ing, members in self-.ali ing relation therewith, said terminal soc et members having longitudinal grooves at their adjacent sides providing-terminal socket .members for receiving and clamping terminals of various cross-sections, and an auxiliary spring meml-ber secured :at the secured ends .of said supporting members and extending around the spring portion of the onesupporting member, the latter ends of the supporting members forming a binding post for an electric .con-

. ductor.

.2. In aide'vice of'the class described, a substantially U-shaped supportingmeans formed of a pair of oppositely disposed supporting members having freeend portions and secured together at their other .end portions,

one of said members having .an integral springportion intermediate its ends, the freeend. portions of both members being rectilinear and provided at the adjacent sides with longitudinal grooves, and a pair of opposite- -l y disposed terminal socket members formed of thin metal with longitudinal grooves at their adjacent inner sides and corresponding ridges at their outer sides, said ridges fitting the grooves of said supporting members forming means for aligning said terminal socket members with said supporting members, each of said terminal socketmembers being pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the free end of one supporting member, said terminal socket members being formed for receiving and clamping terminals of various cross-sections.

3. In a device of the class described, a substantially U-shaped supporting means formed of a pair of oppositely disposed supporting members having free end portions and secured together at their other end portions, one of said members having an integral spring portion intermediate its ends, the freeend portions of both members being rectilinear and provided at the adjacent sides with longitudinal grooves and near their extreme ends with recesses, and a pair of oppositely disposed terminal socket members formed of thin metal with longitudinal grooves at their adjacent inner sides and corresponding ridges at their outer sides, said ridges fitting the grooves of said supporting members forming means for aligning said terminal socket members with said supporting members, each of said terminal socket members being provided intermediate its ends with an outwardly directed pivotal retaining lug, the lugs of the terminal socket members being adapted to extend into the recesses of said supporting members for pivotally connecting said terminal socket members with the supporting members, said terminal socket members being formed for receiving and clamping terminals of various cross-sections. r

4. In a device of the class described, a substantially U-shaped supportingmeans forming a pair of oppositely disposed, resilient supporting members having straight, free end portions, each supporting member having an aperture adjacent its outer end, 'a pair of relatively long, straight terminal socket members having centrally positioned rearwardly extending lugs adapted to be received by said apertures and to pivotally support said socket members on said supporting members, said free-end portions forming bearing surfaces for said sockets over their central portion.

5. In a device of the class described, a sub stantially U-shaped supporting means forming a pair of oppositely disposed, resilient supporting members having straight, freeend portions, said free-end portions having lengthwise extending grooves, an aperture adjacent the outer end of each supporting member, a pair of relatively long, straight to be received by said apertures and pivotally support said socket members on said supporting members, said free-end portions formin bearing and aligning surfaces for said soc ets over their central portion.

6. In a device of the class described, a substantially U-shaped supporting means forming a. pair of oppositely disposed resilient supporting members having straight freeend portions and forming spaced apart bearing surfaces having lengthwise extending central channel portions and flat side p01- tions, an aperture adjacent the outer end of each supporting member, a pair of relatively long, straight socket members having a lengthwise extendin central ridge on their outer side and straight side portions adapted to be received and aligned by said bearing surfaces, centrally positioned lugs extending from the outer side of said sockets projecting through said apertures, the projecting portions of said lugs being bent toward the outer end of said socket members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, this 25th day of November, 1925.

MARTIN C. BERSTED.

terminal socket members, having lengthwise extending ridges at their outer sides adapted to fit in said grooves and align said sockets relative to said supporting members, centrally positioned lugs extending from the outer sides of said socket members adapted 

